Occasionally I dive a bit deeper into Google in search of annotated script pages by people actually shooting the films: directors, writers, actors. Sometimes I strike movie history gold.
I agree with you about John Wayne; as much as I like the Coens' version (I don't see it as a remake, but rather a second film from the same great book), the first remains a classic, and Wayne is the ONLY Rooster. It's too bad our current perspective on his controversial life has tarnished his cinematic legacy. I was at the Oscars the last night he appeared in public - not a dry eye in the house. Ben Johnson told me a great story about what happened backstage before he walked out to say goodbye to Hollywood.
Blacklisted screenwriter Marguerite Roberts adapted the TRUE GRIT screenplay. There was some concern that Wayne would have an issue with that, but that was not the case. Her career dates back to the '30s. Both movies benefit from the original dialogue and style in Charles Portis' original novel. The story is told in the voice of the elderly Matty, which explains the filigreed language and limited contractions.
Great to see these notes!
I agree with you about John Wayne; as much as I like the Coens' version (I don't see it as a remake, but rather a second film from the same great book), the first remains a classic, and Wayne is the ONLY Rooster. It's too bad our current perspective on his controversial life has tarnished his cinematic legacy. I was at the Oscars the last night he appeared in public - not a dry eye in the house. Ben Johnson told me a great story about what happened backstage before he walked out to say goodbye to Hollywood.
Blacklisted screenwriter Marguerite Roberts adapted the TRUE GRIT screenplay. There was some concern that Wayne would have an issue with that, but that was not the case. Her career dates back to the '30s. Both movies benefit from the original dialogue and style in Charles Portis' original novel. The story is told in the voice of the elderly Matty, which explains the filigreed language and limited contractions.